History in Harar

The foundation of
Harar goes back to the foundation of the first Muslim sultanate at the central
and southern Ethiopia in 896 A.D.

In 1521 A.D. Amir Abubakar Muhammad
tranferred his capital from Dakar to Harar which before long emerged as the most
important town in the horn of Africa.

After the fourteen years of
successive holy wars and the defeat of Iman Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim Algaz (Gran) in
1543, the power was assumed by his nephew, Amir Nur ibn Alwazir Mujahid, who
married the late Imam's widow, Bati Del Wambara. It was he who was responsible
for the construction of the great wall (Jugal) around Harar for defensive
purpose. This structure becomes the towns' most important feature.

Because of its strategy, situated on the eastern spur of the southern
Ethiopian mountain massif, Harar become the most important trade centre, playing
an intermediary role between the two trading companies, the rich higlands of the
interior and the Gulf of Aden ports. As a result Harar's rulers struck their own
currencies, the second ones in the history of Ethiopia after that of the Axumite
and the only such money produced at that time in this part of Africa

Harar then and later, was like wise a notable Muslim city, producing a
fine Islamic manuscripts taken to mosques all over the the horn, known as a
muslim strong hold in the horn, some scholars considered it as the "fourth
Muslim city" after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, while others named it "Madinat
al Awliyes" - the city of saints.

Despite its commercial, religious and
cultural importance, Harar was for centuries a closed and mysterious city until
the early 19th centuries. After the defeat at the battle of challanqo in 1887,
by Melelik of Shewa, Harar ceased to be an independent state and was forced to
become part of Ethiopia.

Today Harar is the smallest state in the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethipia, located in the south eastern about 526
km from Addis Ababa.